Wrist Fractures or Injuries

Wrist fracture means that one or more of the bones that make up the wrist joint (carpal bones, radius or ulna) are broken making it unstable. It can be a simple break in one bone, which may not restrict movement, or several fractures, that may displace wrist out of place.

Causes:

The most common cause of wrist injury and fracture is vehicular accident, fall from height on an outstretched hand or abnormal twisting or bending of the wrist. It can also occur due to blunt trauma to the wrist, such as from a car crash. Twisting, rolling or rotating of wrist may also injure it. Weak bones (for example, in osteoporosis) tend to break more easily.

Symptoms:

The symptoms of wrist fracture or injury may include any of the following:

Pain in the wrist

Swelling of the wrist

Bruising in or around the joint

Stiffness

Inability to move the wrist

Redness and warmth over the joint

Bone protruding out of the joint

Deformity ("out of place"), particularly if the wrist joint is dislocated as well